The Ear in the Wall eBook

as any saint. I don’t mind telling you that
the organization, as you call it, is looking into
some of the things that you reformers have done.
It may be that some of your people—­ some
of the ladies,” he insinuated, “don’t
look on life in the broad-minded way that some of
the rest do. Mind you—­I ain’t
making any threats, but when it comes to gossip and
scandal and mud-slinging—­look out for the
little old organization—­that’s all!”

Carton had set his tenacious jaw. “You
can go as far as you like, Murtha,” was all
he said, with a grim smile.

Murtha looked at him a moment, then his manner changed.

“Carton,” he said in a milder tone, at
length, “what’s the use of all this bluffing?
You and I understand each other. These men understand—­life.
It’s a game—­that’s what it is—­a
game. Sometimes one move is right, sometimes
another. You know what you want to accomplish
here in this city. I show you a way to do it.
Don’t answer me,” persisted Murtha, raising
a hand, “just—­think it over.”

Carton had taken a step forward, the tense look on
his face unchanged. “No,” he exclaimed,
and we could almost hear his jaw snap as if it had
been a trap. “No—­I’ll not
think it over. I’ll not yield an inch.
Dopey Jack goes to trial before election.”

As Carton bit off the words, Murtha became almost
beside himself with rage and chagrin. He was
white and red by turns. For a moment I feared
that he might do Carton personal violence.

“Carton,” he ground out, as he reached
the door, “you will regret this.”

“I hope not,” returned the other summoning
with a mighty effort at least the appearance of suavity.
“Good-bye.”

The only answer was the vicious slam which Murtha
gave the door.

As the echo died, the District Attorney turned to
us. “Apparently, then, Dorgan did not secure
the Black Book,” was all he said, “even
supposing Dopey Jack planned and executed that robbery
of Langhorne.”

VIII

THE SHYSTER LAWYER

That’s a declaration of war,” remarked
Kennedy, as Carton resumed his seat at the desk unconcernedly
after the stormy ending of the interview with Murtha.

“I suppose it is,” agreed the District
Attorney, “and I can’t say that I am sorry.”

“Nor I,” added Craig. “But
it settles one thing. We are now out in what
I call the ‘open’ investigation. They
have forced us from cover. We shall have to be
prepared to take quick action now, whatever move they
may make.”

Together we were speculating on the various moves
that the System might make and how we might prepare
in advance for them.

Evidently, however, we were not yet through with these
indirect dealings with the Boss. The System was
thorough, if nothing else, and prompt. We had
about decided to continue our conference over the
dinner table in some uptown restaurant, when the officer
stationed in the hall poked his head in the door and
announced another visitor for the District Attorney.